Your Relationship With Others

Since Jehovah's day is imminent, do you need to make a greater effort to "put on the new personality which was created according to God's will in true righteousness and loyalty"?  (Ephesians 4:20-24)  As you cultivate godly  qualities, others are likely to see that you are "walking in God's spirit' and displaying its fruitage.  (Galatians 5:16, 22-25) Can you point to  specific actions showing that you and your family  have put on the new personality? (Colossians 3:9, 10) For instance, are you know for deeds of kindness to fellow believers and others?  (Galatians 6:10) A regular study of the Scriptures will assist you in developing godly qualities that will prepare you for Jehovah's day. 

What if you have a quick temper and realize that you need some more self-control?  That quality is part of the fruitage that God's holy spirit can produce within you.  Therefore, pray for holy spirit, in line with Jesus' words:  "Keep on asking, and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you. . . .If you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!" -Luke 11:9-13/

Suppose that strained relations exist between you and a certain fellow believer. In that case, make every effort  to repair the breach, thus promoting the peace and unity of the congregation.  (Psalm 133:1-3)  Apply the counsel of Jesus as recorded at Matthew 5:2, 24. or Matthew 18:15-17.  If you have been letting the sun set while you are still in a provoked state, be quick to correct  matters. Often all that is needed is a willingness to forgive.  Paul wrote:  "Become kind to one another, freely forgiving one another just as God also by Christ freely forgave you." -Ephesians 4:25,  26, 32. 

The marital relationship calls for tender compassion and, at times, forgiveness. If you need to be more loving and compassionate toward your spouse, work to attain this objective with the help of God and his Word.  Is something needed on your part  to comply with 1 Corinthians 7:1-5 so as to lessen stress and avoid unfaithfulness?  Surely this is an area of life that calls upon a husband or a wife  to be "tenderly compassionate."

What if you have sinned seriously in some way?  Take remedial steps, as soon as possible. By all means, seek the assistance of Christian elders.  Their prayers and counsel  will help restore you to spiritual health.  (James 5:13-16) Pray to Jehovah with a repentant attitude.  Failure to do so would leave you with a sense of guilt and a troubled conscience. David had that experience but how good it was to get the relief that came with confession to Jehovah!  David wrote:  "Happy is the one who revolt is pardoned, whose sin is covered.  Happy is the man to whose account Jehovah does not put error, and in whose spirit there is no deceit."  (Psalm 32:1-5)  Jehovah forgives  those who sin but are genuinely repentant. -Psalm 103:8-14; Proverbs 28:13.

Next time: Remain No Part of the World

From the Watchtower magazine, 2007